Wall construction for tunnels, shafts, and pipe



Get. 13, 1936. H. HERZBRUCH 2,057,524

WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR TUNNELS, SHAFTS, AND PIPE Filed Sept. 22, 1954 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 y; lf2 4e y; f 4/ A A TTORNEY.

0d. 13, 1936. A H- HERZBRUCH 2,057,524

TRUGTION Filed Sept. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ifea /wzac/f.

INVENTOR.

Patented Uct. 13, 1936 Aram" orties WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR TUNNELS,SHAFTS, AND PIPE Hugo Herzbrueh, Essen-Bredeney, Germany 5 Claims. (Cl.61-42) This invention relates to the construction of the walls of tubessuch as tunnels, shafts, pipes, etc., and more particularly it isdirected to a method of and means for binding upon each other andinterconnecting successive sections which those structures are composedof.

Such sections may be assembled as masonry to form an arch or of segmentsof concrete or reinforced concrete or they are executed to structuralmetal forms, rings, tubing, etc., and serve to line a passage outwardlywhen it passes through the ground or serve to form an enclosure when thestructure is a conduit.

When the sections of such a structure are arranged side by side and lackstrong jointing means, they may gape or shift apart transversely,

as it would for `instance occur, when in a tunnel passing through a rockformation an excessive pressure is exerted by the rock upon one side.Even small cracks or ssures caused in that manner allow water to leakinto the passage and, vice versa, water and air 4may enter upon thesurrounding dry rock and are the indirect cause of disturbance.

I have invented a method interlocking the successive sectionssurrounding a passage by conferring upon the sections a wedge shape,each section being inwardly or outwardly uniformly attenuated.

'Ihe inclined surfaces of contiguous sections rest upon each other,providing that successive sections are alternately attenuated inwardlyand outwardly respectively, at substantially like angles.

If the arches or rings of such sections yield under an exteriorlyapplied pressure, then the wedges are forced between each other at thepoint of yielding; thus a reaction is set up which prohibits furtheryielding, and the interlocking of adjoining sections is increased. Thiseffect is obtained, even when the pressure acts only upon a ring whichis outwardly attenuated, since under those circumstances the wedgeshaped partsof such a ring are forced, at other points, to enter betweeninwardly attenuated or tapered rings and under the resultant reactiongaping is avoided at the point where the pressure was originallyapplied. A lining of this kind is extremely durable, has a greatresistance to all kinds of iniluence, and is waterproof once for all.

It is an object of this invention also to apply the principle ofoverlapping the wedge shaped sections of a passage in the case ofconduits, which are subjected to a particular inside pressure,subterranean passages for instance, which are to be protected againstexplosions, or water pipes in connection with dams.

In the case of passages which are to withstand a pressure from theoutside, the inwardly tapered rings enter upon the interposed rings insuch manner, as to produce a reactionary wedge action, due to which thepressure is evenly distributed between both kinds of rings. This resultis enhanced in proportion to the increase of the exterioi` pressure. l

In order to introduce such reactions in the case of conduits exposed toan interior pressure, the wedging component of force must be appliedfrom the outside. For that reason an exterior pressure is provided forand is particularly apl5 plied to rings which are inwardly tapered.Since, in the case where we thus set up an outside pressure bycollateral means, such outside pressure may be controlled and regulated,the even distribution of the resultant pressure conditions is subject tofull control.

The principle of interlocking successive sections surrounding a passagein wedge fashion maybe supplemented by overlapping the seg-. mentsforming each section in a peripheral direction. In such an instance theadjoining segments are joined together in planes substantially passingthrough the imaginary center of the passage. This is of great value inthe case of concrete segments.

I have the further object to extend the principle of this invention to amode of construction in which the enclosure or lining is made ofstructural iron. Structural iron has great economical advantage overconcrete in the construction of the walls of conduits and in liningpassages, for the following reasons:

When steel or structural iron are used, the thickness of the walls maybe considerbly reduced on account of the greater strength of such ma- 0terial. 'I'his yields the additional advantage that during `the progressof reinforcing or liningv a passage the work may be greatly expeditedwhen a metal construction is used and collapsing or caving in of theunarmored parts may be forestalled by the use of the thinner metalarmoring because it requires less space and therefore less excavationand it is more quickly installed.

A third important advantage of using steel or iron for lining apassage,-as compared with the use of concretais the relative immunity ofsuch structure against chemical reactions which might be set up by theinfiltration of fluids. It is well known that it is difficult to protecta concrete 55 lining against corrosion and erosion under suchinfluences.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a manifold mode ofconstruction in which various materials are alternately used. Thus Iprovide for the alternative use of timber or steel or for an assemblycombining longitudinal members, with others extending peripherallyaround the passage.

A further object of this invention provides for waterproofing inconnection with the wedge-fashioned interlocking method of thisinvention. I make provision to have water-proof material forced into allcrevices or seams of the sections assembled by way of my novel type ofconstruction as a result of the particular wedge action exerted bysections and segmentsupon each other.

These and other objects of my invention will be brought forth in, andbetter understood from the following description of my invention and theexemplary illustrations of the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l shows a cross-section thro-ugh the wall of my constructionadjoining a rock in formation; tubing of a preferred cross-section isused.

Fig. 2 shows in a cross-section a modification of the tubing.

Figs. 3 and 4 show cross-sections of lining made of U-'shaped tubing.

Fig. 5 shows the cross-sectioned structure of a wall in which timber islongitudinally interposed between metal sections surrounding thepassage.

Fig. 6 shows the cross-section of a wall inwhich the metal and timbersections extend in alignment.

Fig. 7 shows in a cross-section longitudinal and transverse timber andmetal sections assembled to form a polygonal lining or enclosure.

The cross-section of Fig. 8 shows a similar construction in which thenatural covexity of the timber is made use of.

Fig. 9 shows the View of a wall section in which a water-proofingplastic is involved.

Fig. 10 shows in a similar view, a preferred arrangement in whichtheoutwardly tapered rings are not exposed upon the outside of the wall.

Fig. 1l shows in a partly sectioned View the use of exterior banding forthe purpose of applying controlled pressure to the inwardly taperedsections of a wall.

Like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

Whereas the prior art showed the abutting faces on tubing, which formssections of a lining of a conduit, to be parallel to each other, Iarrange the faces of tubing, which abut upon adjoining tubing, to bedisposed at an incline to each other,the tubing is shapedtrapezo-idally, so to speak,-and the abutting faces of the adjoiningtubings are correspondingly inclined. In this manner one tubing 2l hasside faces which are inwardly tapered or attenuated whereas thecorresponding faces of the adjoining tubings 22J are outwardly taperedor attenuated. In like manner other tubings are alternately wedge-shapedinwardly or outwardly as it is shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. l the wedge action between adjoining tubings 2| and 22 takesplace at the inclined face 23 and the tubings are reinforced byexemplarily indicated webs 24.

The tapering of the sides of the tubing along the outline of a trapezoidmay be replaced by inclined faces arranged in the manner of aparallelogram; thus the inclined side faces 25 and 26 of tubing 2l ofFig. 2 are parallel to each other.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the construction inasmuch as the inclinedend faces extend outwardly as well as inwardly from the connecting rib28. Thus the wedge faces of tubings, whether they have the trapezoidaloutline of Fig. 1 or the outline of the parallelogram as shown in Fig.2, may be extended ad libitum, and the lining or conduit is reinforcedat the most exposed and dangerous point, i. e. where the tubings restupon each other. The parallel formation will only be used in specificcases of subsectioning, but generally the modification of Fig. 2 willalso be executed in trapezoidal outline. The wedge faces at oppositeends of a. tubing may be reenforced in relation to the connecting rib 2Band/ or to each other, e. g. by web 50.

Engaging adjoining tubings of old systems upon each other by means ofbolts was insufcient and frequently endangered operation. Thus the boltswere frequently sheared off and the tubings were laterally displaced inrespect to each other. In my system of lateral support and of wedgingthe tubings upon each other, the daner of radial displacement issubstantially avoided since the inclined faces serve to preservealignment. When the edges of the tubings are reinforced and the wedgeshaped side faces are suitably extended, the use of bolts for joiningtogether adjacent tubings may be dispensed with altogether. Even thoughthere might be an increase in material due to such extension of theabutting faces, an economical disadvantage due to such an arrangement iscompletely offset by the gain which is brought about because bolts donot have to be used any more and their cost and the cost of the boltingoperation are dispensed with.

For that reason tubing of this kind may be installed at a great savingof Vtime and the binding of adjacent tubing upon each other represents agreat improvement when compared with the old art; the structure isprotected against dislocation of sections in every respect.

A still stronger armored lining for a passage is provided by thearrangement of Fig. 3 in which the trough-shaped sections 29 and 30 areopen outwardly and again are bound upon each other at the inclined faces3|. The rock 32 may be filled in and bound by cement upon the outside ofeither kind of tubing and serves to weigh and anchor the lining.

Fig. 4 shows a further modification in which the trough shaped sections33 and 34 are open outwardly and inwardly, respectively, so that theyare of substantially like cross-section. The outer groove of theinwardly attenuated section 33 may be reinforced, anchored and weightedby rock or concrete 32 so that a binding action upon the surroundingrock in formation is enhanced, that the inwardly attenuated sections maywithstand pressure applied from the outside, and that the concrete llingbinds these sections in a way similar to that indicated in Fig. 11. Ahollow structure or material which is surrounded in truly trapezoidalfashion by a wally such as indicated in Figs. 6 and 8 may be substitutedfor the structural forms of Figs. 3 and 4 and a reinforcing beam may beused in connection with. the outwardly attenuated sections as indicatedvby beam 35 in the hollow structural member 36 of Fig. 7.

I also have extended the principle of my invention to a more economicalarrangement, in which the radial and axial wedgin'g is preserved in thesame manner as illustrated before, but in which the metal beams arepartially replaced by timber. An iron-timber construction has been knownin the art of mining before. Iron supports were arranged atpredetermined distances in the shape of rings, frames, polygons, etc.,longitudinally disposed timber or bars rested upon the outside of theiron supports and were therefore expo-sed exclusively to a particularlystrong bending stress. A collapse of the timber was frequently followedby a cave-in of the rock.

In accordance with the present invention I use iron supports which arearranged uninterruptedly or in segments in the shape of rings orpolygons all of which have a cross-section which is outwardly wedgedlyattenuated. Where rings are used the same structural forms of sectionsor tubing which were described above in the case of walls executedcompletely in iron. Under this mode of construction the timber may bearranged generally as it was applied in the old art, i. e., normally tothe iron sections. But the timber is slanted at both ends, the slantedends being inclined towards each other, and the inclined sides also facethe inside of the passage. These slanted ends 3i of the longitudinallydisposed timber 38 rest upon the oppositely inclined faces of thetubings 3Q. The shape of the tubing again oiers a convenient means toreinforce and bind it by a filling 32 and to anchor it upon thesurrounding rock iii (Fig. 5).

While a construction of this kind immediately oiers the advantages of myaxial wedging, the advantage may be enhanced by suitably shaping thetimber along its longitudinal sides in wedge or peg fashion so that weobtain a trapezoidal or triangular cross-section. The inclined faces ofthe sides of the timber rest upon each other, in arch fashion.

But it is also possible to arrange the timber in a different manner, i.e., in an opposite direction; that has not been known heretofore. Inthat instance it is not disposed normally to the intermediate ironsupports, but it is extended in parallelism thereto. In this instancethe timber is shaped in accordance with the principle of my invention,i. e., the side faces are wedgedly disposed and alternatinglyatt-enuated or tapered towards the outside of the passage and towardsthe inside thereof, respectively. This is illustrated by Fig. 6 in whichl are the spacedly arranged iron supports, i2 are the inwardly taperedpieces of lumber and 43 are the outwardly attenuated or tapered woodenbeams.

In executing this mode of construction axially extended timber 44 isarranged at the corners of the polygonally shaped lining or conduit andserves to anchor the ends of the iron beams as well as of the woodenbeams extending parallel to the iron beams (Fig. 7).

It is distinctly understood that the timber will not have to be squaredup and finished on all sides for the purpose of conversion under myprinciple, but it is necessary to provide the inclined faces upon thesides a-s shown in Fig. 8.

65;, In this case the beams 45 have the inwardly a partition, but itforms a part of the vault, lining or conduit and is rigidly bound intothe whole structure. Therefore this represents the rst instance in whichtimber is used to the fullest extent. Could a metal-lumber constructionbe used heretofore only in instances where there was no pressure or verylittle pressure exerted by the surrounding rock,-although such type ofconstruction was much preferred from an economical aspect,-thisinvention makes it also possible to apply a combined metal-woodconstruction in instances where there is a great pressure on the part ofthe surrounding rock; the use of round timber, which is attened on theabutting tapered sides only, enhances the economical advantage of suchconstruction.

It is well understood that the intermediate supports, which hereinabovehave been described as iron or metal supports only, may also be executedin reinforced concrete.

It has been noticed in illustrations hereinabove described that theinwardly tapered sections offer a greater outer surface than thesections therebetween. In many instances the inwardly tapered sectionsextend outwardly beyond the circumference of the outwardly taperedsections. Thus, the inwardly tapered sections are primarily exposed tothe pressure applied from the outside and the outwardly tapered sectionsare but indirectly exposed to the outwardly applied stress. i. e., byway of the intermediate inwardly tapered sections. Thus the wedgingaction is greatly enhanced and not only is gaping prevented but theabutting sides are continually pressed into abutment and as a result atight enclosure is provided for.

This action, under which the adjoining sections are tightly bound uponeach other for reasons of the pressure applied from the outside upon theinwardly tapered sections, may be specically created by providingoutwardly disposed pressure and binding means, where a pressure from theoutside is lacking. Particularly in the instance where we have segmentsof tubing or reinforced concrete or where we have a masonry archconstruction, a more or less broad annular member,-with ends adjustablylocked together or in the shape of an endless hoop,-may be extended overthe outside of the inwardly tapered sections. Such an annular member isshown at ll in Fig. l1 where it is applied around the stones forming theinwardly tapered sections 118. The annular member may be applied duringor after construction, and it may be heated while being applied, by anelectric resistance heating method, for instance, when shrinking, suchan annular member, ring or hoop, will compress the section to which itis applied and the pressure exerted thereby may be previously determinedand the ring member may be dimensioned accordingly. Of course I do notclaim here the advantage of shrinking a compression member around acompressed member generally, but such action is novel in connection withan arc which is composed of wedge-shaped segments, a complete sectionbeing again bound upon adjoining sections owing to the incline of theabutting faces.

The results obtained by the use of a ring member extended around theoutside of sections may be enhanced, or the heating or shrinking effectmay be replaced, by the use of means,-in joining together thesegments-which expand while settling. Cementitious compounds adapted forsuch purpose are well known in the art. The

compression exerted by the encircling members is not taken up solely bythe section to which such a member is actually applied but it ispropagated to and taken up by the intermediate sections and a fullybalanced pressure effect may be attained in conduits where an internalpressure medium, such as water, is applied.

It will be readily understood that with this type of constructionenclosures which are relatively thin may be used and my novelconstruction is therefore particularly economical in executing astructure of this type in masonry. It is of course understood that inthe case of the alternate inwardly attenuated sections, the inclividualstones or segments have the shape of truncated pyramids, whereas themembers making up the remaining sections are outwardly attenuated in thelongitudinal direction of the passage whereas they are inwardlyattenuated in a "peripheral direction.

In these specific cases as well as in all cases of general applicationof my invention, the outwardly attenuated sections may not only be setback from the outer surface of the lining or wall as it was described invarious instances before, but they may be dimensioned relatively to theintermediate, inwardly attenuated or tapered sections in such a mannerthat they do not show on the outer surface at all and are thereforenever directly subjected to any exteriorly applied pressure. Suchapplications of my invention are particularly illustrated in Figs. 9 and10. both types of sections making up the wall shown in Fig. 9 aretrapezoidal in cross-section, the average diameter of the outwardlyattenuated sections 6i is smaller than that of the inwardly attenuatedsections 62 so that the outwardly attenuated sections are not seen atall but that the inwardly attenuated sections form longitudinally thecontinuous outer surface 63 of the wall. But

they touch each other merely at the ends of the bases 64 of theirtrapezoidal cross-sections.

Where the said inwardly attenuated sections touch upon each other thereis a clearance vbetween said sections extending down to the narrow outerside of the outwardly attenuating sections. This hollow space 65 may befilled with a plastic material, asphalt for instance, which makes thestructure water-proof. Thus penev'tration of water from the outside isprevented and the abutting surface of the sections are likewiseprotected against infiltration from the outside.

In the modification of Fig. 10, the outward sections 66 are triangularin cross-section and the outward extension of the inwardly attenuatedsections 67 has still been carriedfurther. In this instance thetrapezoidal sections with the inwardly attenuated cross-section areflattened foif at both sides so that such alternate sections abut uponeach other in planes normal tothe extent of the passage. In this mannerthe outward strength of the construction becomes greater and thetriangular cross-sectionsof course again may be'replaced by trapezoidalcross-sections,

While thus providing a space for plastic waterproofing material oranother suitable ller.

A wall of my construction may be outwardly lined and bound upon thesurrounding rock by a forcing or expanding cementitious material of thekind referred to above so that the necessary reaction is provided forwhen particular pressures are applied to the walls and passage from theinside, by water for instance.

The stone used in my construction may be made of different materials. Itmay be composed for instance of concrete, brick, clay, slag, etc. Mysystem is particularly adapted for an economical lining replacing theold brick wall enclosure of conduits. The use of cement as a bindingmaterial can be limited to the seams, between the stones of eachsection; but for the seams between the outer and inner wall or mantleand between adjacent sections, i. e., in an axial and radial directionthe interlocking of the stone provides a suiiicient binding.

Although I have shown and described one form of embodiment of myinvention in detail, yet I do not wish to be limited thereby, except asthe state of the art and the appended claims may require, for it isobvious that various modifications and changes may be made in the formof embodiment of my invention, without 'departing' from the spirit andscope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A tube comprising sections conically overlapping each other atabutting, inclined faces, one of said sections extending inwedge-fashion in between others, and a pressure member ex tending aroundand compressing said one section.

2. A tube comprising longitudinally abutting alternately outwardly andinwardly attenuated ring-sections, the inwardly attenuated sectionsbeing outwardly extended to touch each other.

3. A tube comprising longitudinally abutting alternately outwardly andinwardly attenuated ring-sections, of substantially trapezoidalcrosssection, the inwardly attenuated sections being outwardly extendedto touch each other, and a plastic disposed in the space confronted bythe outside of the outwardly attenuated sections between the sides ofthe inwardly attenuated sections.

4. A tube comprising longitudinally abutting alternately outwardly andinwardly attenuated ring-sections, the inwardly attenuated sectionsbeing outwardly extended to touch each other, and parallel faces uponsaid inwardly attenuated sections at which they abut upon each other tothe outside of said inwardly attenuated sections.

5. A tube comprising longitudinally abutting alternately outwardly andinwardly 'attenuated ring-sections of trapezoidal and triangularcrosssections, respectively, the inwardly attenuated sections beingoutwardly extended to touch each other, and parallel faces upon saidinwardly attenuated sections at which they abut upon each other to theoutside of Said inwardly attenuated sections.

HUGO HERZBRUCH.

